Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
- MLF Commissioner Adam McLean struggles to secure a home stadium for the Georgia franchise before the September start.
- Chatham County offers only September contracts with 7 p.m. proposed starts, conflicting with existing Sunday flag football schedule.
- County demands trial-run booking policy; rate ~$2,000 per game, payable 30 days before each event.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The Georgia Major League Football (MLF) franchise, which is based in Savannah, has not secured a home field for its inaugural season, which is set to begin in less than three months.
Most recently, MLF Commissioner Adam McLean and a source within the Chatham County Parks and Recreation department said no plans have been finalized with the County to host games at Memorial Stadium.
Earlier this week, McLean received a list of times for two Sunday dates in September. McLean said the County proposed 7 p.m. start times, which he viewed as “a problem.”
Currently, Memorial Stadium is scheduled to host flag football on Sundays in the fall from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. McLean responded by asking if this was going to be an issue with the times next year as well. While adding, he “supports” kids playing flag football.
In a phone conversation with WSAV, McLean said venues have been one of the hardest parts about getting the league off the ground. Saying, “something always comes up, but we have the money for the deposits.”
When asked if he was concerned securing venues could potentially push the expected September start date to October, McLean responded, “My days of being concerned are long over. I’m not going to b——– the County.”
The source added there is skepticism about a deal coming to fruition to rent the facility due to minimal contact between the Commissioner and the County since the initial, in-person meeting on June 4.
McLean wants a multi-year agreement, according to the source, but the County is only willing to provide a contract for September. After the league demonstrates its ability to fulfill the initial contract, the County is willing to issue contracts for October through December.
“Once we prove ourselves,” McLean said, “maybe we can get better times.”
On June 4, the day after MLF Commissioner Adam McLean announced a franchise was coming to Savannah, McLean met with several representatives from the County. In the 11 a.m. meeting, they reportedly discussed possible dates for eight home games this fall.
A contract is expected to be sent to MLF next week, per the source. The rate is approximately $2,000 per game, which is around the price asked for a high school athletic event.
The contract would need to be signed and paid 30 days prior to the event.
For MLF, this is not the first time they have run into roadblocks when trying to find a homefield for the franchise.
Before the initial announcement of the Georgia franchise, two-year talks with Savannah State University fell apart at the last minute, McLean said on June 4 outside the Thompson Hotel.
McLean added they have a coach for the Georgia franchise, but he has not been officially hired. He said a lot of people want to coach in this league, but “you can’t hire someone based off their resume. You have to make sure they represent the league well.”
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